- Date:
- 19 Aug 2026
1 Industry snapshot
Manufacturing skills and workforce snapshot
Workforce overview
Victoria’s sixth largest employing industry:
- 275,000 people employed
- 7.3% of the Victorian workforce.
Top employing jobs in the industry:
- Production managers
- Food and drink factory workers.
Workforce profile
- Predominantly male and culturally diverse workforce
- More workers have a VET qualification (35% compared to 30% statewide)
- Higher proportion of the workforce is aged 50+ (36% compared with 29% statewide)
- Around a quarter of the industry is employed in food and beverage manufacturing, its largest subdivision.
Projections
Victoria’s tenth highest growing industry:
- 13,200 new workers expected by 2028
- By 2028, 2,900 new workers expected in non‑metallic mineral product manufacturing, followed by fabricated metal products manufacturing (+2,000).
Top growing jobs in the industry are:
- Product assemblers, +1,000 new workers by 2028
- Food and drink factory workers, +1,000 new workers by 2028.
Regional outlook
Regions expecting the highest share of new workers:
- Melbourne: Southern metropolitan Melbourne and Western metropolitan Melbourne
- Regional: Barwon and Loddon Campaspe.
Skills demand
The top growing jobs in the industry range in skill level requirements:
- Higher skilled jobs in the industry attract higher wages and have higher retention rates.
Most in-demand industry specific skills:
- Business solutions
- Supply chain management.
Skills supply
Popular vocational education and training courses:
- Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade
- Certificate IV in Process Manufacturing.
Popular university study areas:
- Business management
- Management and commerce.
2 Introduction
About the manufacturing industry
About these reports
These reports provide a point in time, data-driven overview of the workforce and skills for each industry.
The report does not provide a complete view of workforce dynamics within the industry. Its purpose is to support ongoing efforts to address workforce and skilling demands and to identify opportunities within the manufacturing industry.
Report coverage
This report focuses on the manufacturing industry and the occupations relevant to the industry, categorised using the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) classification of industries (ANZSIC) and occupations (ANZSCO).
Coverage in this report is limited to employment in the industry and sectors as defined by the ABS, noting some occupations are almost exclusively associated with an industry, such as surgeons in the health services sector, while others, such as accountants, are associated with many industries.
Furthermore, industry classifications rarely encompass the full nature of the work (and therefore skills) associated with a given industry. Therefore, ABS definitions of industries or sectors may not align with the definitions used by an industry association.
Key sectors of the industry
The manufacturing industry transforms raw materials into finished or semi-finished goods through mechanical, chemical or biological processes.
The key sectors within the manufacturing industry are:
- Food and beverage manufacturing – includes production of meat, dairy, bakery goods, beverages, sugar, confectionery and packaged foods
- Petroleum, chemical and plastics – includes refining petroleum, manufacturing of chemicals, fertilisers, pharmaceuticals and plastic products
- Metal and machinery – includes smelting, metal product fabrication, machinery and equipment production, and repair services
- Wood, paper and printing – includes timber processing, paper and cardboard manufacturing, and printing services
- Textiles, clothing and leather – includes yarn spinning, fabric production, clothing manufacturing, and footwear and leather goods.
3 Workforce profile
The manufacturing industry is Victoria’s sixth‑largest employing industry, with a predominantly male and culturally diverse workforce.
Employment
Employment by industry in 2025
- 275,000 employed1
- 7.3% Victorian employment share
- 6th share rank.
Employment by industry subdivision in 2025
Industry subdivision | Number of workers |
|---|---|
Food product manufacturing | 67,000 |
Machinery and equipment manufacturing | 37,500 |
Furniture and other manufacturing | 28,900 |
Transport equipment manufacturing | 26,100 |
Basic chemical and chemical product manufacturing | 19,700 |
Workforce profile
Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding.
Age distribution in 2021
Age profile – industry
Age | Percentage of workers |
|---|---|
15 to 24 years | 9% |
25 to 49 years | 55% |
50 years and over | 36% |
Age profile – all industries
Age | Percentage of workers |
|---|---|
15 to 24 years | 14% |
25 to 49 years | 57% |
50 years and over | 29% |
Sex distribution² in 2021
Sex distribution – industry
Sex | Percentage of workers |
|---|---|
Female | 31% |
Male | 69% |
Sex distribution – all industries
Sex | Percentage of workers |
|---|---|
Female | 49% |
Male | 51% |
Highest level of education in 2021
Highest level of education – industry
Education | Percentage of workers |
|---|---|
VET | 35% |
Higher education | 26% |
No post-school qualifications | 39% |
Highest level of education – all industries
Education | Percentage of workers |
|---|---|
VET | 30% |
Higher education | 41% |
No post-school qualifications | 29% |
Workforce diversity
First Nations employment in 2021
Group | Percentage identifying as First Nations |
|---|---|
Industry | 0.6% |
All industries | 0.7% |
Working age population | 0.9% |
Speaks a language other than English³ in 2021
Group | Percentage speaking a language other than English at home |
|---|---|
Industry | 32.9% |
All industries | 27.4% |
Working age population | 34.4% |
Needs assistance with core activities⁴ in 2021
Group | Percentage needing assistance with core activities |
|---|---|
Industry | 0.9% |
All industries | 0.9% |
Working age population | 3.2% |
4 Top employing occupations
Production managers is the top employing occupation in the industry, with a mostly male, full-time employed, VET qualified workforce.
Largest employing occupations within the industry by sex, employed part-time and highest education attainment
Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding.
Number employed by sex², ABS Census 2021
Occupation | Number of workers | Percentage male | Percentage female |
|---|---|---|---|
Production managers | 9,200 | 84% | 16% |
Food and drink factory workers | 8,800 | 70% | 30% |
Packers | 7,900 | 38% | 62% |
Structural steel and welding trades workers | 7,400 | 99% | 1% |
Sales assistants (general) | 6,200 | 23% | 77% |
Product assemblers | 5,300 | 78% | 22% |
Cabinetmakers | 5,200 | 96% | 4% |
Storepersons | 5,200 | 74% | 26% |
Metal fitters and machinists | 4,900 | 99% | 1% |
Forklift drivers | 4,800 | 96% | 4% |
Percentage working part-time in 2021
Occupation | Percentage working part-time |
|---|---|
Production managers | 7% |
Food and drink factory workers | 23% |
Packers | 35% |
Structural steel and welding trades workers | 11% |
Sales assistants (general) | 74% |
Product assemblers | 16% |
Cabinetmakers | 14% |
Storepersons | 23% |
Metal fitters and machinists | 8% |
Forklift drivers | 10% |
Highest educational attainment in 2021
Occupation | Percentage VET | Percentage higher education | Percentage no post-school qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
Production managers | 40% | 31% | 29% |
Food and drink factory workers | 27% | 16% | 57% |
Packers | 20% | 16% | 64% |
Structural steel and welding trades workers | 66% | 4% | 30% |
Sales assistants (general) | 17% | 11% | 72% |
Product assemblers | 28% | 14% | 58% |
Cabinetmakers | 65% | 6% | 29% |
Storepersons | 28% | 14% | 58% |
Metal fitters and machinists | 82% | 5% | 13% |
Forklift drivers | 26% | 6% | 68% |
5 Workforce projections
By 2028, 13,200 new workers are expected to enter the manufacturing industry.
Workforce projections: 3-year and 10-year outlook
Workforce projections – industry
Time period | Employment growth | Retirements | New workers expected5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Share | No. | Share | ||
2025 to 2028 | -4,970 | -38% | 18,100 | 138% | 13,200 |
2025 to 2035 | -6,790 | -13% | 59,000 | 113% | 52,000 |
Workforce projections – Victoria
Time period | Employment growth | Retirements | New workers expected5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Share | No. | Share | ||
2025 to 2028 | 143,000 | 38% | 230,000 | 62% | 373,000 |
2025 to 2035 | 650,000 | 45% | 804,000 | 55% | 1,454,000 |
Note: Totals may not sum exactly due to rounding.
New workers expected⁵ by industry subdivision from 2025 to 2028
Industry subdivision | Number of workers | VET | Higher education | No post-school qualifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Non-metallic mineral product | 2,900 | 36% | 20% | 44% |
Fabricated metal product | 2,000 | 41% | 17% | 42% |
Machinery and equipment | 1,600 | 40% | 34% | 26% |
Wood product manufacturing | 1,600 | 45% | 12% | 43% |
Printing (including the | 1,500 | 42% | 24% | 34% |
Occupations with high new workers expected⁵ with direct TAFE study pathways⁶ from 2025 to 2028
Occupation | New workers expected5 | TAFE pathways into occupation6 | Available under Free TAFE7 |
|---|---|---|---|
Product assemblers | 1,040 | Certificate II in Furniture Making Pathways | - |
Certificate II in Cabinet Making and Timber Technology | ✓ | ||
Certificate II in Furnishing | - | ||
Food and drink factory workers | 1,000 | Certificate II in Food Processing | - |
Certificate I in Food Processing | - | ||
Certificate III in Meat Processing (Smallgoods - General) | - | ||
Metal fitters and machinists | 910 | Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade | - |
Packers | 900 | Certificate III in Meat Processing (Food Services) | - |
Certificate II in Meat Processing (Food Services) | - | ||
Certificate II in Meat Processing (Abattoirs) | - | ||
Structural steel and welding trades workers | 770 | Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade | - |
Certificate IV in Process Manufacturing | - | ||
Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations | ✓ |
Southern Metropolitan (within metropolitan Melbourne) and Barwon (within regional Victoria) are expecting the highest share of new workers
New workers expected⁵ for manufacturing, by region⁸, 2025-2028
New workers expected – industry
| Employment growth | Retirements | New workers expected 2028 | Share of total new workers expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Industry | -4,970 | 18,100 | 13,200 | 4% |
New workers expected – Metropolitan Melbourne
| Employment growth | Retirements | New workers expected 2028 | Share of total new workers expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Metropolitan Melbourne | -2,870 | 14,300 | 11,400 | 87% |
Southern metropolitan | -830 | 4,200 | 3,400 | 30% |
Western metropolitan | 520 | 2,400 | 2,900 | 25% |
Northern metropolitan | -330 | 3,000 | 2,700 | 23% |
Eastern metropolitan | -1,260 | 3,000 | 1,700 | 15% |
Inner metropolitan | -670 | 1,300 | 630 | 6% |
Inner south-east metropolitan | -280 | 400 | 120 | 1% |
New workers expected – Regional Victoria
| Employment growth | Retirements | New workers expected 2028 | Share of total new workers expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Regional Victoria | -2,100 | 3,800 | 1,700 | 13% |
Barwon | -260 | 800 | 540 | 31% |
Loddon Campaspe | -370 | 670 | 300 | 17% |
Central Highlands | -160 | 450 | 290 | 17% |
Ovens Murray | -290 | 460 | 170 | 10% |
Gippsland | -410 | 540 | 130 | 8% |
Goulburn | -250 | 380 | 130 | 7% |
Great South Coast | -190 | 280 | 80 | 5% |
Mallee | -90 | 170 | 80 | 5% |
| Wimmera Southern Mallee | -80 | 90 | 20 | 1% |
Note: Totals may not sum exactly due to rounding.
- 87 per cent of the new workers expected for the industry will be located within metropolitan Melbourne, with Southern metropolitan and Western metropolitan with the highest share of new workers.
- 13 per cent of the new workers expected for the industry will be located within regional Victoria, with Barwon and Loddon Campaspe with the highest share of new workers.
6 Top growing occupations
Top growing jobs in the industry vary in skill level requirements, with higher skilled jobs commanding higher salaries and stronger retention rates.
Occupations with the highest new workers expected within the manufacturing industry
Occupations with highest new workers expected5 | New workers expected5 | Skill level9 | Annual median earnings10 | Retention rate11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Product assemblers | 1,000 | 5 | $55,156 | 75.4% |
Food and drink factory workers | 1,000 | 4,5 | $66,456 | 76.4% |
Metal fitters and machinists | 910 | 3 | $94,744 | 89.2% |
Packers | 900 | 5 | $56,774 | 67.9% |
Structural steel and welding trades workers | 770 | 3 | $79,737 | 87.7% |
Production managers | 620 | 1 | $130,770 | 86.5% |
Industrial, mechanical and production engineers | 600 | 1 | $109,850 | 88.7% |
Truck drivers | 510 | 4 | $69,628 | 85.9% |
Bricklayers and stonemasons | 490 | 3 | $97,859 | 76.4% |
Printers | 430 | 3 | $67,792 | 86.4% |
7 Skills needs
Skills in demand within the industry are diverse, with in-demand industry-specific skills ranging from business solutions to heavy equipment operation.
Industry-specific skill demand
The most in-demand skills are business solutions, supply chain management and heavy equipment operation. Communication, initiative and leadership, and personal attributes (e.g. right attitude/mindset) are also important, with over 80 per cent of job advertisements within the industry mentioning one or more of these skills.
Most mentioned industry-specific skills in 2024 as a share of job advertisements
Industry-specific skill | Share of job ads |
|---|---|
Business solutions | 12.0% |
Supply chain management | 10.1% |
Heavy equipment operation | 8.0% |
Machinery | 7.5% |
Sales management | 6.8% |
Manufacturing processes | 6.4% |
General shipping and | 5.7% |
Pharmacy | 5.2% |
Manufacturing standards | 5.1% |
Product development | 5.0% |
Growing skills mentions within the industry
Skills increasingly being mentioned in job advertisements within the manufacturing industry are inventory and warehousing, merchandising and process improvement and optimisation.
Note: these exclude industry-specific skills already identified as being in high demand
Growing skills as a percentage point difference in job advertisement mentions from 2019 to 2024
Industry-specific skill | Percentage of job ad mentions in 2019 | Percentage of job ad mentions in 2024 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
Inventory and warehousing | 5.1% | 16.8% | 11.7% |
Merchandising | 2.5% | 10.0% | 7.6% |
Process improvement and optimisation | 9.8% | 16.3% | 6.5% |
Occupational health and safety | 4.7% | 9.0% | 4.3% |
Plant operations and management | 4.0% | 7.4% | 3.4% |
Cash management | 0.5% | 3.7% | 3.2% |
Welding, brazing and soldering | 0.6% | 3.4% | 2.8% |
Cash register operation | 0.7% | 3.3% | 2.6% |
Food and beverage | 4.4% | 6.9% | 2.6% |
Customer relationship management (CRM) | 6.2% | 8.8% | 2.5% |
8 Training activity
Popular courses and study areas linked to this industry include the Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade (VET) and Business Management (HE).
Government-funded VET courses⁶
The Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade, Certificate IV in Process Manufacturing and Certificate III in Cabinet Making and Timber Technology are among the most popular VET courses in the industry.
Course code | Course name | Available under Free TAFE7 |
|---|---|---|
MEM31925 | - | |
MSM40116 | Certificate IV in Process Manufacturing | - |
MSF30322 | - | |
MEM20105 | - | |
FBP30521 | - | |
MST20722 | Certificate II in Apparel, Fashion and Textiles | - |
MSF20522 | Certificate II in Furniture Making Pathways | - |
FBP30421 | - | |
FBP20122 | Certificate II in Food Processing | - |
MST31022 | - |
Clicking the link will take you to the Victorian Skills Gateway(opens in a new window), where you can find further information about the course, entry requirements, training providers and financial supports available
University study areas
Popular university study areas aligned with this industry include business management, management and commerce and mechanical engineering.
FoE code | Field of education (FoE) |
|---|---|
080301 | Business management |
080000 | Management and commerce |
030701 | Mechanical engineering |
080315 | Project management |
030101 | Manufacturing engineering |
030303 | Mining engineering |
030105 | Textile making |
030399 | Process and resources engineering, n.e.c. |
030199 | Manufacturing engineering and technology, n.e.c. |
080317 | Quality management |
9 Appendix 1: Data notes
1. Employed: Refers to the estimated number of workers in the industry (working one or more paid hours per week) at the close of the financial year. The estimate is derived using the average of past observations.
2. Sex distribution: In the 2021 Census, respondents could select 1 of 3 options for the sex question: male, female or non-binary sex. Census data is only available for responses recorded as male or female.
3. Speaks a language other than English: Refers to individuals who use a non-English language in their household. The ABS collects this data through the Census.
4. Workers who need assistance with core activities: Are workers with a profound or severe core activity limitation in one or more areas of self-care, mobility and communication.
5. New workers expected: Refers to the estimated number of people needed to enter the workforce in each industry, occupation or region over a specified timeframe. It combines 2 elements:
- Employment growth – new jobs created as businesses and services expand
- Retirements – workers aged over 50 who are expected to permanently leave the workforce, based on patterns observed in tax and census data.
This figure shows how many new workers may be needed to both fill new roles and replace people exiting due to retirement. These are projections – informed estimates based on past trends, government policy and population forecasts.
6. TAFE study pathways: Refers to government-funded Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses that upon completion, provide a pathway into occupations.These pathways include courses at the same or lower skill level than the related ANZSCO 4-digit occupation or courses at a higher skill level with no barriers to entry such as prior qualifications or prerequisites. VET course pathways reflect funding as of November 2025 and the courses included in the 2026 Training Needs List. Funding for VET courses is regularly updated and is subject to change.
7. Free TAFE: Refers to Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses for which the Victorian Government provides free tuition for eligible students. The Free TAFE list reflects funding as of November 2025 and courses included in the 2026 Training Needs List. Funding for VET courses is regularly updated and is subject to change.
8. Regions: Are groupings of local government areas (LGAs) that align to the Victorian Government’s regional partnerships and former metropolitan partnerships.
9. Skill level: Reflects the level of educational attainment, training or experience needed to perform an occupation’s tasks. Skill levels:
- Skill level 1: Occupations typically require a bachelor’s degree or higher
- Skill level 2: Occupations typically require an associate degree, Advanced Diploma or Diploma
- Skill level 3: Occupations typically require a Certificate III (including apprenticeship) or a Certificate IV
- Skill level 4: Occupations typically require a Certificate III (non-apprenticeship pathway) or a Certificate II
- Skill level 5: Occupations typically require a Certificate I or compulsory secondary education.
10. Median earnings: Is the estimated annual median earnings of full-time non-managerial employees in a selected occupation across Australia, based on ABS data from May 2023.
11. Retention rate: Measures the proportion of workers who remain in the same occupation from one financial year to the next, based on ATO data from 2021 to 2022.
9 Appendix 2: Data sources
Industry snapshot
Workforce overview
Victorian Skills Authority, Total new workers expected modelling, based on DJSIR employment projections, 2025.
Workforce profile
- Victorian Skills Authority, Total new workers expected modelling, based on DJSIR employment projections, 2025
- ABS, Census, Age in five-year groups by sex, ANZSIC1, 2021
- ABS, Census, Level of highest educational attainment, ANZSIC1, 2021.
Projections
Victorian Skills Authority, Total new workers expected modelling, based on DJSIR employment projections, 2025.
Regional outlook
Victorian Skills Authority, Total new workers expected modelling, based on DJSIR employment projections, 2025.
Skills demand
Lightcast, ANZ Postings, Victorian Skills Authority's analysis, 2024.
Skills supply
- NCVER, Total VET Activity (TVA) program enrolments, government-funded courses in Victoria, 2015 to 2023, VOCSTATS
- Australian Government Department of Education, higher education student enrolment by 6-digit ASCED Field of Education, 2024.
Workforce profile
Employment
Victorian Skills Authority, Total new workers expected modelling, based on DJSIR employment projections, 2025.
Workforce profile
- ABS, Census, Age in five-year groups by sex, ANZSIC1, 2021
- ABS, Census, Level of highest educational attainment, ANZSIC1, 2021.
Workforce diversity
- ABS, Census, Indigenous status ANZSIC1, 2021
- ABS, Census, Language used at home, ANZSIC1, 2021
- ABS, Census, Indigenous status ANZSIC1, 2021.
Top employing occupations
- ABS, Census, Age in five-year groups by sex, ANZSIC1, 2021
- ABS, Census, Industry of employment and labour force status by state, ANZSIC1, ANZSCO4, 2021
- ABS, Census, Level of highest educational attainment, ANZSIC1, 2021.
Workforce projections
- Victorian Skills Authority, Total new workers expected modelling, based on DJSIR employment projections, 2025.
Top growing occupations
Employment
Victorian Skills Authority, Total new workers expected modelling, based on DJSIR employment projections, 2025.
Skill level
ABS, Census, Occupation skill level (OCSKP), ANZSCO4, 2021.
Annual median earnings
ABS, Survey of employee earnings and hours, May 2023.
Retention rate
Australian Taxation Office, Occupation transition 2010 to 2011 to 2021 to 2022 income years.
Skills needs
- Lightcast, ANZ Postings, Victorian Skills Authority's analysis, 2024 and 2019 to 2024.
Training activity
- NCVER, Total VET Activity (TVA) program enrolments, government-funded courses in Victoria, 2015 to 2023, VOCSTATS
- Australian Government Department of Education, higher education student enrolment by 6-digit ASCED Field of Education, 2024.